The Board of Education heard an update on District budget development in the wake of the revisions to the proposed state budget presented last week by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Chief Business Officer Carol Gregorich told the Board that while the revision is less devastating to public education than the proposal presented in January it still includes a significant reduction in funding. Many observers are concerned that the situation will get worse, because the governor is relying on a huge increase in lottery proceeds or a sales-tax increase that would not take effect in time to prevent mid-year cuts in 2008-09.

The Board also approved a staff recommendation that the District cease to offer home-to-school transportation for high school students at the end of the current school year. Most Alameda County districts discontinued home-to-school transportation for high school students many years ago, and most of the relatively few James Logan and Conley-Caraballo high school students who take New Haven buses have access to Union City Transit and/or AC Transit. The decision should reduce overall transportation costs by about $500,000.

The Board also approved a workforce reduction equal to 7.6 full-time employees, mostly associated with the cessation of high school transportation. Four of the positions that were eliminated are vacant and do not require layoffs.

The Board also approved a new three-year contract with the New Haven Teachers Association. All five Board members expressed their gratitude that the agreement was reached without the acrimony of the past two negotiations.

Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi, citing the fact that the teachers approved the agreement by a vote of 302-21, thanked Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Derek McNamara and NHTA President Charmaine Kawaguchi for their efforts to restore a healthy relationship between the District and the Association.

Agendas of regular Board of Education meetings and minutes of past meetings are available on the District website: www.nhusd.k12.ca.us